Artist Brett Allen Johnson is drawing inspiration from the timeless, arid landscapes of the American Southwest to create glowing oil paintings that pay homage to the legacies of renowned Western painters like Maynard Dixon and Georgia O'Keeffe. His upcoming solo exhibition, titled "Two Worlds," is set to open at Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Pasadena on September 6, featuring a collection of works that capture the dramatic beauty of canyons, ridges, mountains, buttes, and mesas that continue to captivate viewers today.
Certain images of the American Southwest have become deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, perfectly embodying the region's harsh terrain, unpredictable weather patterns, and intense, challenging beauty. One of the most iconic examples is Edward Curtis's dramatic 1904 photograph of the sacred Canyon de Chelly (pronounced deh-shay) in Arizona, which features a line of Navajo riders on horseback silhouetted against towering rock formations. This photograph serves as both a historical record of the Indigenous inhabitants who had called this land home for centuries and was taken 40 years after the forced march known as the Long Walk, making it also a testament to a rapidly evolving nation.
Johnson's artistic approach involves creating brushy and somewhat simplified forms, though not to the extent that they appear cartoonish. He skillfully smooths rocky ledges, gives clouds the substantial weight of dense felt, and illuminates openings in pueblos, mountains, and rainstorms. Through his masterful interplay of light, shadow, and color, he renders soaring buttes with fleshy folds and highlights the unique patterns found in nature. His painting "In the Land of the Sage," an oil work measuring 40 x 40 inches, exemplifies this technique.
The exhibition includes several notable works, including the mineralized, colorful outcrops depicted in "Banded Cliffs, Fruita," which is based on a historic location in Capitol Reef National Park. The show's titular painting, "Two Worlds," measuring 50 x 100 inches, presents an anonymous, completely uninhabited canyon rim viewed from the opposite side. Other featured works include "Glass Window" (30 x 34 inches), "Chocolate Ripple" (16 x 40 inches), "Not Some Other Place" (44 x 40 inches), "Cottonwood Stand with Distant Rain" (18 x 26 inches), "Long Shadows" (18 x 30 inches), and "Uinta Veil" (18 x 30 inches).
"Technique, composition, color, and paint handling—they all say something even if we don't intend them to," Johnson explains. "But the more I can get to the heart of it, the more I can simplify a painting into just the parts I find indispensable—the essence—those fundamentals become just tools in service of a vision." This philosophy is evident throughout his body of work, where he distills the Southwest's complex landscapes into their most essential and powerful elements.
The "Two Worlds" exhibition represents Johnson's continued exploration of the American Southwest's enduring appeal and its ability to inspire contemporary artists. All images are courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Alexander Gallery, and visitors can explore more of Johnson's work on his Instagram account. The opening of this solo show provides art enthusiasts with an opportunity to experience Johnson's unique interpretation of one of America's most visually striking and culturally significant regions.
